The T5 Q&a Thread

[wh1te]

I am starting a 120 that will mainly be fish but with some soft corals and very few lps mixed in and personally lighting is making my head spin. What would be the most cost effective way for me to light this tank and have my livestock thrive.

 

[WannabeAquarist]

Just updating my previous post...

I now see that the risers are not for the Solar Flare light and that this type of mounting is not an option. Still, should this light be hung so that it is "off" of the tank?

Also, I don't know if the tubes for this light should be 54w HO or just 54w. Please help... trying to avoid returns.

And finally... should the AquaBlue light be the 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent from ATI or the 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent from Giesemann?

 

[jstlsn]

Anyone ever try the Tek Ready to Fit Kits that ReefGeek sells? It appears to be a cleaned up version of the Retro Kits. Cleans up the wiring. Same price as the Retros. Only draw back is that the bulbs on one ballast must be mounted next to each other.

I am thinking of getting 3 of these to put over my 75G. What bulb configuration should I get, selecting from the bulbs sold at ReefGeek? What would be the best setup as far as timers are concerned? Most of the configurations I have seen described have the actinics on the front and back bulbs. With the Tek Ready Kits this isn't possible.

Thanks
Brad

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Should look fine.
You could also try this

Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Midday
Blue Plus
Aquablue

That gives you a Blue Plus and a Super Actinic on one circuit for dusk/dawn.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9373165#post9373165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spiffyguy
Would this configuration work ok with an Aquactinics TX5 fixture? Never really had an option to buy different bulbs lol.

Front
UV 54W Super Actinic T5
Giesemann 54W 6000K Midday Sun
ATI 54W Blue Plus T5
Giesemann 54W 11000K Aquablue Plus
ATI 54W Blue Plus T5

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Re: Could someone please check my homework?

Re: Could someone please check my homework?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9373180#post9373180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WannabeAquarist
Wow, amazing thread! It's taken me most of the day to get to the end. Thanks to all who have contributed.

I recently purchased an 8x54w Nova Extreme... (No groans please). Since reading, I now see the error of my ways. It's going back in the morning and this is my new plan...

I have a 75 Gal (48” W x 18” D x 21” H) tank that I'm hoping will support a wide variety of species. I'm going to purchase the 6 lamp Aquactinics Solar Flare 48" with the following bulbs:

(Front)
Blue Plus
Aqua Blue
UVL Super Actinic
GE 3000K
Blue Plus
Aqua Blue
(Back)

Some things that are not clear to me are:
1) I'm not sure about the order of the bulbs that I’ve listed.
2) Which 2 bulbs should come on first before the others? The super actinic and 1 Aqua Blue?
3) Should I have this light sit on a glass covered tank or on an uncovered tank? I noticed that there are riser brackets available for it.

Oh, and could someone comment on how loud the fan noise is from this fixture? (The Nova Extreme was kind of loud) A vendor recommendation would also be great.

If I remember right the first and 6th lamp are on the same circuit so use the front slot for the super actinic and the last for a blue plus. Should look sweet.

I'd try this for a start

Front
Super Actinic
Aquablue
GE
Blue Plus
Aquablue
Blue Plus

You can play with the positions of the middle 4 lamps to tweak the look a bit. The IC fans tend to be quite but I have not heard them in a fixture yet so I cant say for sure.

As far as the glass you can but dont need to. you will have plenty of light to raise whatever you want with that fixture.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9373516#post9373516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wh1te
I am starting a 120 that will mainly be fish but with some soft corals and very few lps mixed in and personally lighting is making my head spin. What would be the most cost effective way for me to light this tank and have my livestock thrive.

like a 6 lamp tek or 5 lamp aquactinics fixture would work.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9374514#post9374514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WannabeAquarist
Just updating my previous post...

I now see that the risers are not for the Solar Flare light and that this type of mounting is not an option. Still, should this light be hung so that it is "off" of the tank?

Also, I don't know if the tubes for this light should be 54w HO or just 54w. Please help... trying to avoid returns.

And finally... should the AquaBlue light be the 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent from ATI or the 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent from Giesemann?

The fixture is designed to sit right on the tank. The lamps we refer to are HO's. I prefer the ATI brand lamps but the Giesemann version is basically the same type of lamp with slightly less output.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9375220#post9375220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jstlsn
Anyone ever try the Tek Ready to Fit Kits that ReefGeek sells? It appears to be a cleaned up version of the Retro Kits. Cleans up the wiring. Same price as the Retros. Only draw back is that the bulbs on one ballast must be mounted next to each other.

I am thinking of getting 3 of these to put over my 75G. What bulb configuration should I get, selecting from the bulbs sold at ReefGeek? What would be the best setup as far as timers are concerned? Most of the configurations I have seen described have the actinics on the front and back bulbs. With the Tek Ready Kits this isn't possible.

Thanks
Brad

As long as you keep the actinic lamp front of center, so the light strikes the viewing side of the corals things will look nice

For the 6 lamp ready fits try this

Front

UVL Super Actinic (dusk/dawn)
Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue (3rd pair on)
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue Plus (2nd pair on)
ATI Aquablue

 

[reef93]

I'm starting 75gal FOWLR at first then moving to reef setup soon. I wonder if I can fire up 2 lamps out of 6 lamps T5 fixture?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Depends on the fixture but that usually isn't a problem. Each ballast usually runs 2 lamps so you can just remove the lamps if the fixture doesn't have a switch. Just cover the endcaps with electrical tape to keep mosture from corroding the contacts until you add lamps.

 

[barnical jay]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by slavearm
USPS showed up today with some goodies for me. Osram Sylvania Ballasts. I am going to use these on my 39W retros. Hope they fire the bulbs!




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm currently running one of these on a 24w x 2 t5 light with one ge 6500k and one ati aquablue special.

 

[Doureefa]

I guess Grim here is the expert on the t5 set-ups. Haha I have just been reading this post, or trying to, its so long. Anyway Grim I have been looking into converting to t5's. I have a 55 gallon tank and I was thinking of going with the t5 4 lamp setup. Do you think this would be enough lighting to house sps? If so what bulbs would you suggest and in what order? The width of my tank is 13", which would only allow me to have four bulbs; Thats if I go with the tek 5 (4x54). I would really appreciate your advice and expertise in this department. I am new to this type of light set-up. Thanks

 

[wh1te]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9375476#post9375476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
like a 6 lamp tek or 5 lamp aquactinics fixture would work.

Thanks for the suggestions grim I have at least one more question for you. My tank is 72"Wx18"Dx24"H am I stuck with using a 60" fixture or should i maybe consider 2 36" fixtures or the aquactinics 72" t5 fixture

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9377422#post9377422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doureefa
I guess Grim here is the expert on the t5 set-ups. Haha I have just been reading this post, or trying to, its so long. Anyway Grim I have been looking into converting to t5's. I have a 55 gallon tank and I was thinking of going with the t5 4 lamp setup. Do you think this would be enough lighting to house sps? If so what bulbs would you suggest and in what order? The width of my tank is 13", which would only allow me to have four bulbs; Thats if I go with the tek 5 (4x54). I would really appreciate your advice and expertise in this department. I am new to this type of light set-up. Thanks

A 4 lamp system will be fine. If you have a canopy use a retrofit kit. If not the 4 lamp Tek or 5 lamp Aquactinis fixtures will be good.

I would run 1 UVL Aquasun, 1 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 UVL Super Actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9377422#post9377422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doureefa
I guess Grim here is the expert on the t5 set-ups. Haha I have just been reading this post, or trying to, its so long. Anyway Grim I have been looking into converting to t5's. I have a 55 gallon tank and I was thinking of going with the t5 4 lamp setup. Do you think this would be enough lighting to house sps? If so what bulbs would you suggest and in what order? The width of my tank is 13", which would only allow me to have four bulbs; Thats if I go with the tek 5 (4x54). I would really appreciate your advice and expertise in this department. I am new to this type of light set-up. Thanks

A 4 lamp system will be fine. If you have a canopy use a retrofit kit. If not the 4 lamp Tek or 5 lamp Aquactinis fixtures will be good.

I would run 1 UVL Aquasun, 1 Blue Plus, 1 Aquablue and 1 UVL Super Actinic.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9377661#post9377661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wh1te
Thanks for the suggestions grim I have at least one more question for you. My tank is 72"Wx18"Dx24"H am I stuck with using a 60" fixture or should i maybe consider 2 36" fixtures or the aquactinics 72" t5 fixture

I would probably go with the Aquactinics 72" fixture. Its just to much cleaner than messing with 2 short fixtures.

 

[fishfanatic06]

Hi, Sorry another bulb combo question. I have a 4x54 watt tek t5 fixture. I used to have a hamilton 14k halide bulb. The color from it was awesome. I was wondering if anyone knew what t5 bulbs I could use to try and get that hamilton 14k look. I still what to get good par because I have an sps dominated tank. It would also be really helpfull if I could include 2 ATI aquablue specials (11k bulbs) with the mix, since I have them laying around already. Also, in what order should I put the bulbs, Front to back to get that hamilton 14k look?
Thanks!
Your help is greatly appreciated!

 

[beatle]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9221041#post9221041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
The 4 lamp Tek retro will be fine bu o yourself a favor and gt Ice Cap reflectors, reefgeek does a reflector upgrade for 2 bux per lamp.

FOr lamps I would do a GE 6500K, 1 ATI Aquablue, 1 ATI blue Plus and 1 ATI Super Actinic

Grim, I took your advice and picked this up. I just finished installing it, and the tank is BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!!!! I was coming from an old 2x96w PC setup with one 10K and one actinic bulb. My torch really fluoresces under the light like never before, but everything looks like it's from some other planet. Any suggestions?

 

[nmprisons]

I am getting a tank that is 36" long and 20" deep. I want to keep clams on the sandbed and SPS. Can I do this with T5? If so, what do you suggest would be the ideal lighting? Do you think I will need a chiller if there is AC in the room?

 

[wh1te]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9378661#post9378661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Grim Reefer
I would probably go with the Aquactinics 72" fixture. Its just to much cleaner than messing with 2 short fixtures.

After looking at prices this will end up being my best option you wouldnt happen to have a bulb recommendation would you.